Morning, folks.\u00a0 You’re either completely distracted by Hurricane Irene, or you’re trapped inside eager for the diversion of the weekend opinion pages.\u00a0 So let’s have at it.<\/p>\n
The Glens Falls Post Star<\/a> decries the lack of a coherent, logical national energy policy, pointing to the starkly diverging views of Rep. Chris Gibson and environmentalist Bill McKibben, and to the fierce disputs over development of New York’s Marcellus Shale gas deposits.<\/p>\n With all this uncertainty and disagreement over fuel estimates, sources and priorities, it’s no wonder we’re still captive to the Middle East.<\/p>\n Better science and more effective leadership are the only way we’re going to claw out of our energy quagmire. Until we get both, we’ll just keep twisting in the wind.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Adirondack Daily Enterprise<\/a>, meanwhile, chimes in that “hydrofracking” in the Marchellus Shale “leaves a bad taste in our mouth.”<\/p>\n The New York Times reviewed documents and reported in a series that the wastewater that comes back to the surface can be highly radioactive and inadequately treated and was then discharged back into rivers that supply drinking water. These downstream water supplies have not been required to test water sources for radioactivity, despite the known health threats and federal regulations.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n